Chanel Gresham shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Chanel, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I have been called to walk in purpose as a life coach and relationship coach. What held me back was doubting that I had the capability of leading people in the right direction. That I held the ability to assist people navigate their relationship after two failed marriages. Over the last several years, I have learned that my life experiences, my personal growth, combined with book knowledge, being street smart, and biblical knowledge would be my source to guide me through.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Chanel Gresham recreating my life one step at a time. A clothing and accessories designer by passion, but a Life and Relationship Coach by purpose. My brand Provoke Change serves as a conduit to help women —especially Black women navigating emotional, mental, spiritual, and financial wounds—rediscover their worth and step into a healed, whole version of themselves. My coaching blends practical tools like workbooks, guided exercises, and structured coaching sessions with faith-based encouragement and real-life strategies. I create safe spaces where women feel seen, heard, and understood, while equipping them with mindset shifts, healthier communication skills, and action plans that move them from surviving to thriving. My role isn’t to “fix” anyone, but to walk beside them as they reclaim their voice, reset their boundaries, and rebuild their lives on their own terms
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds break when trust is fractured through dishonesty, neglect, betrayal, silence, or simply the slow erosion of presence. It isn’t always the big explosions that separate us; often it’s the small cracks left unattended. Unspoken words, unmet needs, or the weight of pride and ego can quietly unravel even the strongest ties. At the root, bonds break when love stops being chosen daily and when people stop seeing each other clearly. The restoration begins with humility. With one heart willing to soften and another willing to listen. Bonds are repaired by truth spoken with love, accountability embraced without excuses, and forgiveness that isn’t cheap but courageous. Presence restores what absence has eroded showing up, consistently, in both word and deed. And above all, bonds are renewed when grace enters the space grace to see each other not as perfect, but as human, still worthy of love and belonging.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
This is a loaded question that instantly sent my mind into a space of what I have endured to get here. Suffering taught me patience in the silence, trust in the unseen, and resilience in the places no applause could ever reach. It stripped me down to the bone and showed me who I was without titles, achievements, or recognition. Success can decorate you, but suffering reveals you.
Success never forced me to face myself the way suffering did. It never made me sit with my shadows, question my worth, or dig for strength I didn’t know I had. Suffering carved depth into me. It gave me compassion for pain I’ll never experience personally and a tenderness for people I’ll never meet.
Where success told me, “You made it,” suffering whispered, “Now make meaning.” And that’s something no trophy or accolade could ever teach.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Fads are loud but shallow. They sparkle for a moment, get everyone’s attention, and then fade when the next shiny thing arrives. They thrive on hype, not on depth.
Foundational shifts, on the other hand, move quieter but cut deeper. They change how you think, live, and relate—not just for a season, but for a lifetime. A true shift isn’t about popularity; it’s about longevity. You know it’s real when it keeps showing up in your decisions, your relationships, and your growth—even after the crowd has moved on.
For me, the test is simple: does it just excite me, or does it transform me? A fad stirs emotion, but a shift rewrites your foundation. A fad is fashion, a shift is faith.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
People may mistake my legacy for the titles, the books, the coaching programs, or the outward success. They might think it was about business or brand. But the truth is—my legacy was never about building a name; it was about building people.
What may be misunderstood is that everything I created wasn’t meant to spotlight me, but to spark transformation in others. My legacy isn’t “Chanel did this.” It’s the ripple effect of the women who healed, the families who mended, and the communities that grew stronger because one person dared to provoke change.
If anything is misunderstood, let it be this: I was never chasing recognition. I was planting seeds. And the harvest will outlive me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.echoesofherheart.com
- Instagram: Provoke Change
- Youtube: Provoke Change
- Other: Tiktok: Provoke Change
Blog: www.chiiiile.com
